advice on second hand bike
03-22-06, 11:35 AM
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advice on second hand bike
hi,
am goin to be new to all this and need a bit of advice. i want to get a bike but can only afford £300, i have been offered a 2 year old second hand GT Backwood bike in great condition and just been serviced, and for £300. the only mark on it is the seat looks well used. can anyone advise me on if this is a good offer? as a new bike with similar spec could cost me £550, like a specialized with similar spec. any help would be great. i do not want at this stage to do any major extream off roading, just on the lanes and slight rough ground, and see how much i get into it.
thankyou in advance for your help.
Glenn
am goin to be new to all this and need a bit of advice. i want to get a bike but can only afford £300, i have been offered a 2 year old second hand GT Backwood bike in great condition and just been serviced, and for £300. the only mark on it is the seat looks well used. can anyone advise me on if this is a good offer? as a new bike with similar spec could cost me £550, like a specialized with similar spec. any help would be great. i do not want at this stage to do any major extream off roading, just on the lanes and slight rough ground, and see how much i get into it.
thankyou in advance for your help.
Glenn
03-22-06, 05:10 PM
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Hello Glenn, I can't tell you what solution you will find most satisfactory.
The way I see it, if you buy yourself a new bike, it will become a "used" bike in a few days and it will not be as well equipped as the other used bike you could have had. Also, the £300 used bike has already seen its major depreciation, so if you want to upgrade to a better bike later, you'll recover more of the money you spent on the bike than if you were to re-sell a bike you bought new. The biggest chunk of depreciation is in the short time after a bike leaves the shop all shiny-new before it becomes "used".
These are all generalizations, so they're generally true. Facts and circumstances may render these general principles inapplicable in particular cases.
The way I see it, if you buy yourself a new bike, it will become a "used" bike in a few days and it will not be as well equipped as the other used bike you could have had. Also, the £300 used bike has already seen its major depreciation, so if you want to upgrade to a better bike later, you'll recover more of the money you spent on the bike than if you were to re-sell a bike you bought new. The biggest chunk of depreciation is in the short time after a bike leaves the shop all shiny-new before it becomes "used".
These are all generalizations, so they're generally true. Facts and circumstances may render these general principles inapplicable in particular cases.
03-22-06, 06:06 PM
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So how's the frame fit? To me, if the bike isn't the right size, that's a deal breaker.
If, and only if, the size is right, my rule of thumb for used bikes is 50% of retail list. That would make your bike 275. I'd offer the owner 250 and see what he says. You can always raise your offer if you choose. Another negotiating point might be "sweeteners." If the owner stands firm at 300, try to get him to throw in something extra - doesn't even have to be bike related.
If, and only if, the size is right, my rule of thumb for used bikes is 50% of retail list. That would make your bike 275. I'd offer the owner 250 and see what he says. You can always raise your offer if you choose. Another negotiating point might be "sweeteners." If the owner stands firm at 300, try to get him to throw in something extra - doesn't even have to be bike related.
